On October 7, 2025, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security posted an Instagram montage that pairs footage of heavily armed Border Patrol and ICE officers confronting protesters with Zach Bryan’s 2020 song “Revival.” The department’s caption quoted the track’s lyrics: “We’re Having an All Night Revival.”

The short video shows agents deploying crowd-control tactics, including tear gas, and lining people up with their hands bound. Billboard has contacted Bryan’s representatives for comment.

The episode follows a social-media ripple that began when Bryan shared a snippet of an unreleased song on Instagram on October 3, 2025. In the clip he sings, in part, “I heard the cops came… And ICE is gonna come bust down your door,” lyrics that prompted immediate attention and debate online.

After criticism from federal officials and attention from the White House, Bryan posted a clarification on his Instagram Story, writing that the full song—when heard in context—reflects his love for the country and its people. He urged listeners not to rush to judgment, saying the verse had been framed by a divisive narrative pushed through social media and that the complete lyrics address multiple perspectives.

“This song is about how much I love this country and everyone in it more than anything,” Bryan wrote on October 7, 2025. “When you hear the rest of the song, you will understand the full context that hits on both sides of the aisle.”

The back-and-forth takes place amid heightened concern within immigrant communities, which leaders and advocates have described as facing intensified enforcement actions in recent months. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, for example, has characterized some raids as “military style.”

In response to Bryan’s lyrics, a White House spokesperson, Abigail Jackson, issued a statement defending enforcement efforts and criticizing the artist’s comments, saying many Americans support the administration’s immigration agenda.

For context and the original DHS video, see the department’s Instagram post. For the video that prompted the exchange, visit Bryan’s October 3, 2025 Instagram clip. Additional background on enforcement tactics is available in public statements and reporting from elected officials and advocacy groups.

View the DHS Instagram post • Watch Gov. Pritzker’s remarks

Editor’s note: Dates referenced in this article are October 3, 2025 (Bryan’s Instagram clip) and October 7, 2025 (the DHS post).

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